Car truck



D. M. LIGHT June 19, 1945.

CAR TRUCK Filed April 5, 1943 4 Shets-Sheet l l l AN r il@ 56 76 s4 INVENTOR BY fila/ Magg/@ WW OJ,

June 19, 1945.

D. M. LIGHT CAR TRUCK 46 6b 7@ 4 m lq mmm t O m m@ QM. w m Mlm h I nl S 9 by, l j* 4 L; T .w IJ I.| Y B o@ W 9 7 1 w. 94 5. j d l m j A d e H.. O O F m 3 w O Z m 46 2 9 3 6 j j l j j l 1111 Patented June 19, 1945 CAR TRUCK David M. Light, Chicago, lll., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, Iii., a corporation of New Jersey Application April 5, 1943, Serial No. 481,794

30 Claims. (Cl. 10S-197) My invention relates -to railway car trucks and more particularly to a type of truck commonly designated ride control wherein friction absorbing means is associated with the ltruck bolster in such manner as to dampen lthe oscillations of the bolster Vsupporting spring group.

An object of my invention is to design a ride control truck whereinone or more friction shoes may be housed in each side of the bolster in wedge engagement therewith, said shoes being resiliently urged into said wedge engagement and in-to frictional engagement with the adjacent side frame columns. In one modification of my inven- -tion a pair of friction shoes are housed in each side of the bolster with a resilient member compressed therebetween and in another modication of my invention a single shoe is housed in each side of the bolster with a resilient member compressed between a wall of said bolster vand said shoe.

Still another object of my invention is to design a ride control truck such as above described wherein each end of the bolster is provided at opposite sides thereof with column guide lugs for engagement with inboardl and outboard surfaces of the assoclated'side frame columns, the outboard of said lugs being of less depth than .the widened upper portion of the bolster opening defined by said columns, whereby the bolster may be elevated in said bolster opening and removed therefrom during a quick wheel change.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel wedge engagement between each friction shoe and the bolster whereby the resilient means associated with said shoe is interposed between'spaced wedge surfaces on the shoe and on the bolster.

My invention comprehends a friction shoe of novel form, said shoe being of cup-like shape with an internal springvseat and crowned wedge surfaces at opposite sides thereof, said shoe having a friction face at one end thereof and a handle-like portion at the opposite end thereof.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a railway car truck embodying my invention, only one end of the truck being shown inasmuch as the same is similar at opposite ends thereof, and Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan View of the truck vwith the side frame columns shown in section. A

Figures 3 and 4 are respectively sectional views taken in the planes indicated by the lines 3-3 of Figure 1 and 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figures 5 to '7 inclusive show in' detail the novel bolster utilized in Figures 1 to 3, Figure 5 being a fragmentary top plan-view of the bolster, Figure 6 being a front elevation taken from the bottom as seen in Figure 5, and Figure 7 being a side elevation taken from the right as seen in Figure 5.

Figures 8 to 11 inclusive show in detail one embodiment of my novel friction shoe, Figure 8 being a plan View thereof, Figure 9 being a side elevation taken from the bottom as seen in Figure 8', Figure 10 being a front elevation taken 'from the right as seen in Figure 8, and Figure 11 being a sectional view taken in the plane indicated by the line ll-II of Figure 8.

Figures 12 to 14 inclusive show a modified form of my novel friction shoe, Figure 12 being a plan view thereof, Figure 13 a side elevation taken from the bottom as seen in Figure 12, and Figure i4 being a front elevation taken from the right as seen in Figure 12.

Figures 15 to 19 inclusive show a modication of my novel truck, Figure 15 being a fragmentary side elevation thereof, Figure 16 being a sectional view taken in the transverse vertical piane indicated by the line l6l6 of Figure 15, with the bolster shown in elevation, Figure 17 being a top plan view of the truck with the side frame shown in section, and Figures 18 and 19 being respectively sectional views taken on the lines Iii-I8 and I9-l3 of Figure 17;

Describing my invention in detail and referring first lto the modication shown in Figures 1 to 14 inclusive, the truck comprises a side frame generally designatedand having tension and compression members 4 and 6 merging adjacent each end thereof with a column 8 defining therewith a bolster opening Il) (Figure 1) with a widened upper portion l2. A plurality of springs diagrammatically indicated at I4, I4 (Figures 1 and 2) are seated on the tension member 6 in the customary manner and afford support for a bolster generally designated I6, said bolster comprising top and bottom walls I8 and 20, spaced side walls 22, 22 and the intermediate rib 24 parallel with said side walls.

Each side of the bolster comprises a pocket 26 defined in part by inboard and outboard webs 28 and 30, said webs being inwardly offset at 32 and 34 respectively .to define a narrowed inner portion of said pocket, the offset portions 32 and 34 merging with a rear wall 38 extending substantially parallel -to the side walls 22. 22 and the rib '24. Integrally formed with each of said webs 28 and 30 is a ledge 40 substantially V-shaped in vertical cross-section, as best seen in Figure 4, and projecting into the pocket 28 to afford top and bottom wedge surfaces 42 and 44 sloping respectively upwardly and downwardly toward the adjacent column 8. Thus it will be apparent that integrally formed with the bolster within each pocket 28 is a pair of spaced internal upper wedge surfaces 42, 42 sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column 8 and a pair of spaced internal lower wedge surfaces `44, 44 sloping downwardly toward said column, each pair of surfaces 42, 42 and 44, 44 cooperating with a single friction shoe as hereinafter more fully described.

A pair of identical friction shoes 88. 80 are positioned within each pocket 28, one of said shoes being shown in detail in Figures 8 to 11 inclusive. Each shoe is a casting of generally cup-like form, having front and rear walls 82 and 84, spaced side walls I8. 88, and an integral web 88 affording an internal spring seat at 88 (Figures l and 11). The front wall I2 is formed with a friction face 82 for frictional engagement as at S4 (Figures ,2 and 3) with a wear plate 88 conveniently secured to the adjacent column 8 in the customary manner, and the side walls 88, 88 of the friction shoe I8 are formed with Wing-like ledges 88, 88 having the substantially co-planar wedge surfaces 10. 10 for complementary wedge engagement at 12. 12 with the associated surfaces 42, 42 or 44, 44 within the pocket 28. It may be noted as best seen in Figures 4 and9 that the wedge surfaces 18. 10 are crowned from the top to bottom thereof in order to aord a rocking movement of the shoe against the associated surfaces 42, 42 or 44, 44 in order to accommodate irregularities in the frictional engagement between the shoe and the column-mounted wear plate 88. The rear wall 84 of each shoe is provided with an oset handle-like portion 14 and the side walls 58, 58 of the shoe are cored away at 18. 18 in alignment with the inner surfaceof said handlelike portion to accommodate the reception of an associated tool as hereinafter more fully described.

It will be understood from a consideration of Figures 1 and 4 thata pair of shoes 88, 88 are disposed within each pocket 28, the wedge surfaces 18, 10 on the top shoe being engaged with the surfaces 42, 42 at opposite sides of the pocket, and the wedge surfaces 18, 18 on the bottom shoe being engaged with the complementary wedge surfaces 44, 44 at opposite sides of said pocket. A spring 18, herein illustrated as a coil spring, is

interposed between the shoes 88, 88 and is seated at opposite ends against the springseats 88. 88 within the respective shoes, both of the shoes being urged by said spring and the associated bolster wedge surfaces into frictional engagement at 84 with the adjacent column mounted wear plate 88 as above described.

It may be noted that the offset portions 22 and 24oftheinboardandoutboardwalls28and2l definingeach pocket 28 are provided with aligned openings 28, 88 therethrough and it will be readily understoodthatatoolmaybeinsertedthrough the aligned openings 88. 88 in engagement with the handle-like portions 14. 14 of the friction shoes 88. 80. whereby said shoes may be drawn intothepocket28 againsttheresist'anceofthe spring 18 during assembly and disassembly of the .bolster and the side frame.

Itmayalsobenotedthatthebolsterisprovided at each side thereof with inboard and outboard column guide lugs 82 and 84. the outboard lugs 84, 84, as may be clearly seen from a consideration of Figure 1, being of less depth than the widened portion i2 of the bolster opening whereby after the friction shoes have been withdrawn from engagement with the wear plates G8, 88 by means of a tool extending through the openings 88. as above described, the bolster may be elevated in the .bolster opening and removed therefrom while the supporting coil springs I4, |4 remain in normal assembled relationship with the side frame.

A modication of my novel friction shoe is shown in Figures 12 to 14 inclusive wherein the shoe, generally designated 88, comprises the front and rear walls 88 and 80 and the integral web 02 affording an internal spring seat 24. The shoe 88 is formed at opposite sides thereof with wing portions 88, 88 formed with the crowned wedge surfaces 88. 88, the front and rear walls 88 and 88 being provided on the adjacent sides thereof with arcuate spring positioning surfaces |00, |00. 'I'he rear wall 80 is provided with an offset handle-like portion |8i. It will be understood that the friction shoe shown in Figures 12 to 14 inclusive is somewhat skeletal in form but is otherwise substantially identical with that shown in Figures 8 to ll inclusive.

A modification of my novel truck arrangement is shown in Figures l5 to 19 inclusive wherein the side frame, generally designated |02. comprises tension and compression members |04 and |08 merging adjacent corresponding ends thereof with columns |88, |08, defining therewith the bolster opening ||0 with a widened upper portion ||2 (Figure 15). 'I'he tension member beneath the bolster opening is of box section with the inboard and outboard webs ||4 and IIS and the top and bottom chords IIB and |20 as well as the vertical reinforcing rib |22 disposed intermediate the walls ||4 and H8. The top chord ||8 is widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard ilanges |24 and |28 defining a spring seat |28 upon which are seated a plurality of coil springs |20, |20 affording support for the bolster generally designated |22.

The bolster comprises the top and bottom walls |24 and |28 and the spaced side walls |28. |28, and a pocket |40 is formed in each side of the bolster. said pocket being. defined in part by the inboard and outboard walls |42 and |44 offset respectively at |48 and |48 and merging with a rear wall |88 at the inner end of the pocket. Integrally formed with the inboard and outboard walls |42 and |44 are the spaced ledges |52 and |84, said ledges presenting wedge surfaces sloping upwardly and outwardly toward the adjacent column and engaged at |88 and |88 respectively with wing portions |88 and |82 of a friction shoe generally designated |84, said shoe comprising a top wall |88 affording a seat at |88 for the upper end of a spring |18. the lower end of said spring being seated at |12 against the bottom wall |28 of the bolster.

Each friction shoe |84 also comprises a front wall I 14 for engagement at |18 with a wear plate |18l mounted on the adjacent column |00, and said shoe also comprises a rear wall |80 offset at |82 to form a handle-like loop received within a complementary offset |84 in the rear wall |00 of the pocket |40. the loop |82 being aligned with openings |88. |88 in the inboard and outboard walls |42 and 44. It will be understood that. as in the previous embodiment, a tool may be inserted into the openings |88, |88 and may be engaged with the offset portion |82 of the wall |80 whereby the shoe may be withdrawn from engagement with the associated wear plate |18 during assembly and disassembly ofthe bolster and side frame.

As may be seen in Figures l and 19, the surfaces on the shoes are crowned from top to bottom thereof as in the previous modification and for a similar purpose. It may be noted that the bolster |32 comprises inboard and outboard guide lugs |80 and |90 at each side thereof for engagement `with the inboard and outboard surfaces ofthe adjacent column'l00, the outboard lugs |90, |00, as may be clearly seen in Figure 15, be-

ing of less depth than the widened portion ||2 of the bolster opening, whereby the bolster may be elevated therein and removed therefrom during a quick wheel change without disturbing the supporting springs |30, |30.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

l. In a railway car truck, aside frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported from said means andv having pockets in opposite sides thereof, two pairs of wedge surfaces on said bolster` in each pocket, top and bottom friction shoes in each pocket in complementary engagement with respective pairs of said wedge surfaces and in frictional engagement with the adjacent column, and a substantially vertical resilient member in each pocket compressed by and between the associated shoes, said bolster opening having a widened upper portion and said bolster having inboard and outboard guide lugs engaging inboard and outboard surfaces on said columns, the outboard guide lugs being of less depththan the widened portion of said bolster opening whereby ,the bolster may be elevated therein and removed therefrom during a quick wheel change, the wedge surfaces of each of said pairs thereof being disposed at opposite sides of the associated resilient member.

2. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means and having a pocket in each side thereof, each of said pockets having a pair of spaced upper wedge surfaces sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column, and a pai'r of spaced lower wedge surfaces sloping downwardly toward said column, a pair of friction shoes in each pocket, each of said shoes engaging the adjacent column and comprising a pair of wedge faces engaging one pair of said wedge surfaces, and a resilient member compressed by and between said shoes and extending between the spaced wedge faces of each shoe, said bolster opening having a widened upper portion and said bolster havingv inboard and routboard guide lugs engaging the inboard and outboard surfaces of each column, the outboard guide lugs being of less depth than the widened portion of said bolster opening.

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame, resilienty means supported from said frame, a bolster supported from said resilient means, friction means on said frame, a pocket in each side of said bolster, a plurality of wedge surfaces on said bolster in each pocket, a plurality of friction shoes in each pocket engaging the associated wedge surfaces and the associated friction means, and resilient means compressed by and between the friction shoes in each pocket.

4.111 a railway car truck, a side frame com-- prising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, said opening comprising a widened upper portion, a bolster resiliently supported on said vframe in said opening, a pocket in each side of said bolster and comprising spaced wedge surfaces sloping toward the adjacent column, a friction shoe in each pocket having spaced wedge faces in engagement with the spaced wedge surfaces therein, said shoe being in frictional engagement with the adjacent column, resilient means bearing against each shoe and extending between the spaced wedge faces thereon and between the associated wedge surfaces, and inboard and outboard lugs on said bolster guidably engaging the inboard and outboard surfaces of each column, said outboard lugs being of less depth than the widened portion of said bolster opening, whereby said bolster may be elevated therein and removed therefrom during a quick wheel change.

5. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means and having a pocket in each side thereof defined in part -by inboard and outboard substantially vertical walls, each of said pockets having a pair of spaced upper wedge surfaces sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column and a pair of spaced lower wedge surfaces sloping downwardly toward said column, a pair of `friction shoes in each pocket, each of said shoes engaging the adjacent column and one pair of said wedge surfaces, and a resilient member compressed by and between each pair of said shoes, each of said shoes having a handle-like portion in alignment with openings in the associated of said inboard and outboard walls.

6. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported from said means and having pockets in opposite sides thereof, a plurality of wedge surfaces on said bolster in each pocket, top and bottom friction shoes in each pocket in complementary engagement with respectivek of -said wedge surfaces and in frictional engagement with the adjacent column, and a substantially vertical resilient member in each rpocket cornpressed by and between the associated shoes, said bolster opening having a widened upper portion and said bolster having inboard and outboard guide lugs engaging inboard and outboard surfaces on said columns, the outboard guide lugs being of less depth than the widened portion of said bolster opening whereby therbolster may be elevated therein and removed therefrom during a quick wheel change.

'7. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns andan intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means and having a pocket in each side thereof, each of said pockets having a pair of spaced upper wedge surfaces sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column, and a pair of spaced lower wedge surfaces sloping downwardly toward said column, a pair of friction shoes in each pocket, each of said shoes engaging the adjacent column and comprising a pair of wedge faces engaging one pair of said wedge surfaces, and a resilient member compressed by and between said shoes and extending between the spaced wedge faces of each. shoe, said wedge faces being crowned to afford a rocking movement of said shoes against the associated wedge surfaces.

8. In a railway car truck, a side frame having top and bottom members and spaced ycolumns defining therewith a bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported from said means and having a pocket in each side thereof, each of said pockets having a pair of spaced co-planar wedge surfaces sloping upwardly Vtoward the adjacent column and a pair of spaced co-planar wedge surfaces sloping downwardly toward the adjacent column, a pair of friction shoes in each pocket, each of said shoes engaging the adjacent column and one pair of said wedge surfaces, and resilient means compressed by and between each pair of shoes and extending between the spaced wedge surfaces of each associated pair thereof.

9. In a railwaycar truck, a side frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means and having a pocket in each side thereof, each of said pockets having a pair of spaced upper wedge surfaces sloping upwardly toward the adjacent column and' a pair of spaced lower Wedge surfaces sloping downwardly toward said column, a pair of friction shoes in each pocket, each of said shoes engaging the adjacent column and one pair of said wedge surfaces, and a resilient member compressed by and between said shoes and extending between the spaced wedge surfaces of each associated pair thereof.

10. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported on said resilient means and having a pocket in each side thereof, each of said pockets having a pair of spaced upper wedge surfaces sloping toward the adjacent column, and a pair of spaced lower wedge surfaces sloping downwardly toward said column, a pair of friction shoes in each pocket, each of said shoes engaging the adjacent column and comprising a pair of wedge faces engaging one pairof said wedge surfaces, and a resilient member compressed by and between said shoes and extending between the spaced wedge faces of each shoe.

l1. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, a bolster resiliently supported on said frame in said opening, a pocket in -each side of said bolster comprising spaced substantially co-planar wedge surfaces sloping toward the adjacent column, a friction shoe in each -pocket having spaced wedge faces in engagement with the spaced wedge surfaces therein, said shoe being in frictional engagement with the adjacent column and said wedge faces being crowned from top to bottom thereof, and resilient means bearing against each shoe and extending between the spaced wedge faces thereon and between the associated wedge surfaces.

l2. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported from said means and having pockets in opposite sides thereof, a. plurality of wedge surfaces on said bolster in each pocket, top and bottom friction shoes in each pocket having wedge faces in complementary wedge engagement with respective of said wedge surfaces, said shoes being in frictional engagement with the adjacent column, and a vertical resilient member in each pocket compressed by and between the shoes therein, the wedge faces on said shoes being crowned.

13. In a railway car truck. aside frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster openresilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported from said means and having pockets in opposite sides thereof, a plurality of wedge surfaces on said bolster in each pocket, top and bottom friction shoes in each pocket in complementary` engagement with respective of said wedge surfaces and in frictional engagement with the adjacent' column, and a substantially vertical resilient member in each pocket compressed by and between the associated shoes, each shoe having a handle-like portion on the side thereof remote from the associated column.

14. In a railway car truck, a lside frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, a bolster resiliently supported from said frame in said opening, a pocket in at least one side of said bolster, a V-shaped wall within said pocket presenting opposed wedge surfaces, friction shoes engaged with respective wedge surfaces and with friction means on the adjacent column, and resilient means compressed by and between said shoes.

15. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported from said means and having pockets in opposite sides thereof, a plurality of wedge surfaces on said bolster in each pocket, top and bottom friction shoes in each pocket in complementary engagement with respective of said wedge surfaces and in frictional engagement with the adjacent column, and a substantially vertical resilient member in each pocket compressed by and between the associated shoes.

16. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported from said means, a pocket in each side of saidbolster, a pair of spaced upper wedge surfaces and a pair of spaced lower wedge surfaces in each pocket, a pair of friction shoes in each pocket, each of said shoes being engaged with the adjacent column and one pair of said wedge surfaces, and a resilient memberin each pocket under compression between the associated shoes.

17. In a bolster, a box-like member having top and bottom and spaced side walls, a pocket in each side of said member defined in part by inboard and outboard walls thereof, and a pair of spaced ledges in each pocket merging with said top and bottom and respective of said inboard and outboard walls, each of said ledges being of v-section in vertical cross section and 'atording top and bottom wedge surfaces within said pocket.

18. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, a bolster resiliently supported from said frame in said opening, a pocket in at least one side of said bolster, a V-shaped wall within said pocket presenting opposed wedge surfaces sloping respectively upwardly and downwardly toward the adjacent column, friction shoes engaged with respective wedge surfaces and with I friction means on said adjacent column, and resilient means under compression between said shoes. l

19. In a railway Acar truck, 'a side frame comprising a column member plti'llydenning a bolsterv opening, a bolster member resiliently supported from said frame in said opening, a pocket in one of. said members comprising a plurality of vertically aligned reversely arranged wedge surfaces, spaced friction shoes in said pocket in engagement with respective of said surfaces and in frictional engagement .with the other of said members, and resilient means under compression between said shoes.

20. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a column member partially defining a bolster opening, a bolster member resiliently supported from said frame in said opening, a pocket in one of said members comprisingv a plurality of wedge surfaces sloping respectively upwardly and downwardly toward the other of said members, friction shoes in said pocket in engageshoes at each side of said bolster engaging the associated wedge surfaces thereon and frictionally engaging the adjacent column, and a substantially vertical resilient member compressed by and between the shoes at each side of the bolster.

25. In a bolster, a box-like member having top and bottom and spaced side walls, a pocket in at least one side of said member, and wedge surfaces withln said pocket sloplngrespectively upwardly and downwardly toward the outer extremity thereof.

26. In a bolster, a box-like member comprising top and bottom wedge surfaces on at least one side thereof, said surfaces converging toward the longitudinal center line of the bolster.

27.- In'a railway car truck, a side frame having a bolster opening, a bolster resiliently supported therefrom within said opening, friction means on said frame in said opening and extending between the top and bottom thereof, wedge surfaces on said bolster diverging toward said friction means, friction shoes engaging respective surfaces and frictionally engaging said friction means, and resilient means compressed by and between said-shoes. f

28. In a railway car truck, a side frame coml.prising a column member partially dening 'a gagement with respective of said surfaces and in frictional engagement with the other of said members, and resilient means extending between said shoes and under compression therebetween.

bolster opening, a bolster member resiliently supported from said frame in said opening, a V- shaped web on one of said members havingreversely arranged and` vertically aligned wedge surfaces diverging toward the other of-sald members, friction elements engaging respective surfaces -and frictionally engaging means on said other member, and resilient means compressed between said elements.

22. In a bolster, a box-like member having top l and bottom and spaced side walls, a pocket in each side of said member, andwedge surfaces.

withineach pocket sloping respectively upwardly 'f' and downwardly towardl the outer extremity thereof. n A

23. In a railway car truck,4 a side frame comprising spaced columns and an intervening bolster opening, resilient means on said frame in said opening, a bolster supported from said resilient means, wedge surfaces on said bolster -at each side thereof, spaced friction shoes at each side of said bolster engaging the associated wedge 29. In a railway car truck, a side frame comfrictionally engaging friction means on th other'I i member, and resilient means compressed foy and between said elements, said resilient means extending between the wedge surfaces of each of said pairs.

30. In a railway cartruck, a column member,

a relatively movable member supported adjacent thereto, a V-shaped web on one of said mem'- bers having reversely arranged vertically aligned wedge surfaces 'diverging toward the other of said members, friction elements engaging said wedge surfaces and engaging friction means on said other-member, and resilient means operatively associated with said friction elements for urging thesame into engagement with said wedge surfaces and said friction means.

lDAVID M. LIGHT. 

